UN Warns of Deteriorating Gaza Humanitarian Situation

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated one year after a truce that ended fighting between Israel and Hamas, UN officials said Thursday.

“After 12 months the initial hopes for a significant improvement on the ground have not been realized,” said James Rawley, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories.

“In fact I am sorry to report that situations for Gaza’s 1.7 million people is worse than it was before the hostilities a year ago” between November 14 and 21, he said.

Speaking at a news conference marking the anniversary, Rawley said the fuel and energy crisis was a primary cause of the situation.

Robert Turner, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, noted the impact of the demolition of smuggling tunnels under the border since Egypt’s army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

“The closures of the tunnels has led to a near total collapse of private sector constructions, as it compounded the constraints due to the pre-existing ban on construction materials from Israel for the private sector,” said the UNRWA chief.

The two officials deplored Israel’s decision to ban the import of building materials – including to international agencies – from October 13, following the discovery of a tunnel which Hamas fighters dug to use for attacks.

Oxfam said Gazans were still “trapped under the Israeli blockade and largely cut off from the outside world” despite the ceasefire meant to allow the movement of people and goods in and out of the enclave.

“Exports allowed out of Gaza have dropped by half since 2012 and Palestinian fishermen and farmers continue to be prevented from accessing the most productive areas,” the British charity said in a statement.

The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006.

The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Palestinians in Gazans.

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